Leaking Radiator Valve - plumbers mait?

dantheman2010

Hi all

I had a corroded radiator valve replaced yesterday by a plumber and today I noticed a small drop of water coming from where the copper pipe meets the (nut) bottom of the new valve. Its producing a very small droplet of water which is running down the side of the copper pipe and onto my floor.

I am going to call the plumber in the morning, in the mean time I have put a towel on the floor.

I just wondered will it be a case of applying some plumbers mait to where the pipe meets the valve?

When touching this part of the valve, where I can feel some water I also can feel a putty type substance.

I hope that this isnt going to be a major problem, I have just had to have the radiator in the bathroom replaced as it leaked all over the floor ruining the ceiling of the room beneath as well as another radiator valve that started leaking at the same time in the spare room.

I just would like this plumbing headache/nightmare to end.

I thought it was all solved yesterday but now have noticed this leaking.

Thanks all.

andyhop

do not use plumbers mate

Boss white or PTFE around the olive is all that is required

dantheman2010

I was reading some other threads about tightening the nut, I was going to try this, but then thought that the water, very very small amount is coming from underneath the nut, from the gap where the copper pipe goes into the nut. What would the suggestions be? Just wrap PTFE all around that part? Thanks

keystone

What you can feel is jointing compound (Bosswhite that Andy mentions is one of the most used variants). The jointing compound or the PTFE tape goes round the olive and there is no need for it anywhere else. The reality is that its the olive that does the work and it doen't actually need anything on it at all on 15mm pipe but peeps use jointing compund or PTFE either as belt and braces or because they feel more comfortable with it.

Putting PTFE round the pipe below the nut will do nothing fo you.

You cannot get at the olive without undoing the nut completely and dropping it down the pipe. Thats not necessary IMHO.

All that needs doing is the nut doing up more than it is at present PROVIDED that he has not done it up too tight in the first place and crushed the olive. When that happens there is no seal however much jointing compound or PTFE is applied.

I would suggest you do nothing apart from leave the towel until you go to bed and put a fresh one down for overnight and call him in the morning. Its his responsibility to fix it at his cost. Its not actually too late to call him now if you feel like it TBH.

HTH

Cheers

dantheman2010

Thank you, I would try doing the nut up, but it didnt make sense to me as the water is coming from underneath the nut (or at the bottom of the nut). Also can someone please explain what the olive actually is on the valve?

I will ring the plumber tomorrow. Maybe it is the case of him not doing it up tight enough, but if its the opposite I dont want to attempt to tighten it further thus crushing the olive further.

keystone

dantheman2010 wrote: »

Thank you, I would try doing the nut up, but it didnt make sense to me as the water is coming from underneath the nut (or at the bottom of the nut). Also can someone please explain what the olive actually is on the valve?

In your case the valve is the compression fitting body. You'll notice it has a chamfered flange on the bottom. The olive (the small ring) slides over the pipe and into the body. Whenthe nut is done up it compresses the olive to form the seal. Take no notice of the RH side of the image its not relevant to your situation. Does that make sense?

I will ring the plumber tomorrow. Maybe it is the case of him not doing it up tight enough, but if its the opposite I dont want to attempt to tighten it further thus crushing the olive further.

Quite right but I think I'd be ringing him now anyway. If a client of mine had a leak through work that I had done and didn't call me I'd be cross with them. Provided the distance isn't too far and he hasn't had a few sherberts already he should at least offer to come and sort it tonight even if you are prepared to wait until the morning.

Cheers

alanobrien

Fernox joint sealer LS-X will fix it, B&Q and thelike produce there own versions
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001&partNumber=638733

keystone

alanobrien wrote: »

Fernox joint sealer LS-X will fix it

Only if you use it as an alternative to jointing compound. Plastering it around the nut will only contain the leak not stop it. The solution is either to make the joint properly or remake it - OP have you called your plumber yet?

, B&Q and thelike produce there own versions

No substitute for the real thing.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=20001&partNumber=638733

Why pay nearly 7 quid at a shed for it when you can mostly get it from a plumbers merchant for less than £5 and I got my last tube for less than £4!

Cheers

dantheman2010

I have called the plumber, he said he will come round and sort it, he says it probably just needs tightening, an extra turn. Better him do it than me, and potentially cause more problems.

A quick question though if it happens again - do I totally unscrew the net, let it slide down the pipe and then apply the PTFE tape or plumbers mait etc, then screw the nut back over it OR do I just apply the tape / plumbers mait directly around the bottom of the nut where it meets the pipe - where the water droplets are coming from?

Thank you.

P.S What does OP stand for? I can only think of Original Poster. Thanks

keystone

dantheman2010 wrote: »

I have called the plumber, he said he will come round and sort it, he says it probably just needs tightening, an extra turn. Better him do it than me, and potentially cause more problems.

Yep.

A quick question though if it happens again - do I totally unscrew the net, let it slide down the pipe and then apply the PTFE tape or plumbers mait etc, then screw the nut back over it OR do I just apply the tape / plumbers mait directly around the bottom of the nut where it meets the pipe - where the water droplets are coming from?

See previous post. It shouldn't be necessary in any event and if you want to use anything its PTFE or a smear of LSX or a smear of jointing compund. Do not use plumbers mait.

Note that to do it you have to remake the joint in this way then the valve has to be lifted off the pipe. Not a good idea if you have water in the system. Just let the plumber nip the nut up as he suggests and if its still doing it aftewards then get him to remake the joint.

P.S What does OP stand for? I can only think of Original Poster. Thanks

You would be right.

Cheers

vaio

OP………

The olive needs to be squeezed against the pipe and the fitting at the top and bottom, it should be a purely mechanical seal and shouldn’t need ptfe or silicone but a little smear/wrap does no harm.

But, from a DIY point of view, if you over tighten it you will distort the pipe/olive and probably have to replace one or both and to expose the olive to wrap/smear PTFE/silicone on it you’ll need to drain the system down.